Moments before another lengthy jail term, the "muscle for fire" arsonist who set the home of a popular YouTuber on fire has apologised from the "bottom of his heart".
Jordan Shanks – better known by his online alias of FriendlyJordies – had been making videos about colourful Sydney identities when arsonists set upon his Bondi residence in 2022.
The front verandah and door were destroyed, the bedroom and hallway damaged, and smoke damage occurred to the neighbour's property.
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Shanks was not at home at the time.
One of the men behind the November 23 attack, Tufi Junior Tauese-Auelua, was jailed for five years on Monday
He expressed remorse during a sentence hearing at Coffs Harbour District Court.
"I would just like to apologise from the bottom of my heart," the 39-year-old said via video link from Nowra prison.
Telling the court he believed in God, he said he was over his life of crime after spending so much of his 20s and 30s behind bars.
"I'd rather die than return back to jail," he said.
The group used a stolen Mercedes with cloned plates for the arson attack and surveilled Shanks' home before pouring petrol at three separate locations.
The YouTuber later pulled down a video after saying people were "once again threatening dire consequences" if it remained online.
Police at the time of the attack suggested a southwest Sydney-based organised crime group, reported to be the Alameddine gang, were behind the attack.
"You win, we're taking down the video, congratulations, you run this city," Shanks said in February 2023.
The motive for the Shanks arson attack was not detailed in court, nor were any details released about what Tauese-Auelua personally gained from his involvement.
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Tauese-Auelua has not been accused of being an Alameddine gang member.
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to destroying property by fire in company and reckless wounding in a separate for-hired attack in 2022.
In that matter, a man whose relationship with a property developer had broken down was set upon by Tauese-Auelua and others with baseball bats.
Judge McHugh jailed Tauese-Auelua for five years, noting the 39-year-old criminal history contained "lots of violence".
"He's being used as muscle for third parties to … harm others," Judge McHugh said.
The judge found Tauese-Auelua had a significant level of insight into his conduct but noted he had poor prospects of rehabilitation.
He has been diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
Defence barrister Alex Cassels described his client's mental state as "a little boy in a very large body".
With 15 months in custody already served, Tauese-Auelua will be eligible for parole in July 2027.
Prosecutors on Friday dropped the case against a second man charged over the 2022 arson attack due to insufficient evidence.
At a bail hearing in October 2023, Andre Stepanyan's lawyer said there was nothing to show he was in the vehicle travelling to Shanks' home.
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